Job Satisfaction
John Hoyle really enjoyed building his first NG component car and found the sense of achievement to be great therapy after a long working day, in fact he benefited from the project so much that when the NG company itself came up for sale he decided to buy the business. There is certainly great satisfaction to be got from doing something really well and the NG range of cars is perfectly designed to give the builder optimum fulfilment, from the pleasure of constructing the car right through to the fun of driving it. The NG range is a very special development of the kit car concept in that the kit utilises already proven sports car components. It takes the running gear and many other parts from the excellent MGB and brings them together in combination with a high quality body/chassis kit to produce a driving machine with real engineering integrity. The careful design of the components of the kit ensure that the vehicle is straightforward to construct. This quality guarantees that the finished product is at least as good and in many respects far better than many turn key cars available from specialist manufacturers.

Driving the NG TF

Behind the wheel of the NG TF there is a comfortingly familiar feel for anyone who drives an MGB everyday. I found the accuracy of the steering and controls to be delightful and when the accelerator was pressed there was a noticeable extra degree of response from the 1800cc engine, thanks to the lighter weight of the body/chassis unit. In some respects the experience is very like driving an MG TD, you have the long bonnet, flowing wings, flat windscreen and cutaway body sides giving ample “elbow room as you deftly manoeuvre the car through the bends. All this exposure gives you a feeling of being a part of scenery and at one with the open road. However the NG TF definitely has the edge on the fifties classic in terms of performance, handling and ride. Although the NG employs the MGB suspension set-up, albeit slightly modified with telescopic shock absorbers front and rear, the lighter body seems to endow the car with a much smoother ride while the road holding is sure footed and confidence inspiring. There is no flexing or shaking in the body and the overall impression is of solid quality and thorough development. This car is a modern classic for those who want to combine the appearance and distinction of a traditional looking sports car with everyday driving enjoyment.

NG TF Classic good looks, great performance and totally practical   Swept wings and free standing headlights hark back to a golden age of sports car motoring

Practical and Fun Once completed the NG will give endless driving pleasure, be easy to maintain and blessed with an abundance of readily available spares and tuning products. In addition to this, the kit is well conceived, properly engineered, solid and durable. As an everyday car the TF scores well and enjoys roughly the same interior space as a BGT although the cabin is somewhat narrower. The restricted width is compensated for by the slender bucket seats which provide excellent support. The cockpit is well trimmed and the wooden dash complete with MGB instruments adds to the traditional charm of the TF. You enter the TF by hopping over the cut-away side and sliding down into the bucket seat, you quickly acquire the technique to perform this feat with dignity. Once inside you find that all controls are all in easy reach and there is ample leg room and sufficient adjustment to make the tallest driver comfortable. The front seats of the TF also incorporate seat belt mountings into the frame of the seat giving an ideal position for the webbing and super strong location. There is also a rear bench seat like the one in the BGT, which will provide seating for smaller children (seat belts are provided) or perhaps a perch for a sporting dog. The backrest of the rear seat pulls forward to reveal a surprisingly accommodating boot in which the sidescreens and hood can be stowed, plus a small amount of luggage in squashy bags. The hood and sidescreens are made to the highest specification in double duck and provide total protection from the weather.

Quality trim adds to the hand crafted feel of the interior. Rear seat adequate for younger children and fitting with seat belts. Note front seat belt fittings built into seat back   Familiar B unit fits neatly in engine bay. Dual circuit brakes for up to date security braking

Something Else

After my drive in the 1800 TF I took the passenger seat for an even more dramatic run in John Hoyle’s other demonstrator, the V8 engined NG TC. Although using the same chassis and similar body this is a radically different car. Strictly a two seater the whole emphasis of the TC is on performance. Aerodynamics are aided by the use of cycle wings and aeroscreens in combination with the arrow sharp bodywork. The TC is race developed and its appearance is as uncompromising as its performance.

Pre war styling meets retro look

This car manages to combine the best visual aspects of the pre-war classic racer, open body work and side mounted exhausts, with the modern and fashionable retrospective look achieved by the combination of high quality paint finish, ultra wide wheels/tyres and exquisitely trimmed cockpit. Performance is shattering with a 3.9 litre V8 under the long louvered bonnet, in such a lightweight body this powerplant gives quite incredible throttle response. The TC pulls like a train and John assures me that it goes on pulling right up to 140 mph. The combination of instant acceleration and exposure to the elements gives a thrill similar to riding a high performance motorbike. In combination with all the power comes excellent levels of road holding and grip, the suspension formula is simple but well sorted and I was particularly impressed with the comfort of the ride and the quality of the handling.

Braking was also powerfully reassuring as this car featured John’s own specially designed front crossmember giving the TC the benefit of coil over shockers front suspension and four pot ventilated disc brakes. As we roared past Epsom railway station an appreciative train driver leaning from his cab, watched our progress and could not resist giving us an acknowledging blast from his klaxon as we passed. This is the kind of attention you receive when behind the wheel of the TC, a high powered race car which delivers its outstanding performance in a competent and superbly balanced manner.

Unrivalled access to V8 engine

SVA John Hoyle and other specialist car makers have had to face up to the considerable financial burden of meeting the recent Single Vehicle Approval regulations which have been imposed on their industry. Although this has required a great deal of extra effort on his part John has risen to the engineering challenge and produced sound solutions to the demands of the new legislation, these changes have made the cars safer in terms of detail fixtures and fittings and have also brought about some useful improvements. The most dramatic of which has been the development of an improved front suspension system which John in collaboration with Gerry Hawkridge of Hawk cars has come up with. This features replacing the old lever arm dampers with fully adjustable coil over shockers which are fitted to a slightly modified front crossmember. The set up also incorporates improved tubular steel wishbones with the lower wishbone featuring a very neat camber adjustment using a small cam arrangement with a good range of adjustment, making it easy to set camber in a few minutes. The top wishbone has a facility for castor adjustment as well. The coil over shockers used are special high quality rebuildable units which are fully adjustable for ride height and damper rate with a positive click adjuster. Also as they are based on the popular two and a quarter inch internal diameter springs an infinite range of spring rates is available. This is not only good news for builders of NGs and Hawks but also for those considering modifying their MGBs, as the front suspension and modified crossmember can also be fitted to the MGB.

TC has incredible presence and draws a crowd whenever it’s parked   New front suspension with re-designed wishbones and coil over shockers

Assembly
Putting together an NG runs through the following sequence, first acquire a donor vehicle, a tired BGT is usually the most appropriate. Once the required components have been removed they can be cleaned and refurbished as necessary. If other parts not needed for the build such as body panels, trim or even the radiator are still in good order they can be sold on through the back pages of ‘Enjoying MG’ to subsidise the cost of the donor car. The kit can either be bought as a complete package or in manageable sections, to suit the progress of the build and to spread the costs. Acquiring the chassis pack first, enables all the running and driving gear to be assembled, sorted and fitted to the bracketed and pre-drilled chassis prior to obtaining the body. The body pack comes with all necessary panels, fixings and various chromed catches to allow the builder to complete the assembly.

To complete the NG

To these major components you can add a braking kit, which contains all you need to complete the braking system including a dual circuit master cylinder. The electrical kit comprises a bespoke loom and all parts to complete the electrical and lighting system. A pair of vinyl seats complete with frames, special brackets and seat belts. The fuel system kit which contains a special mild steel (stainless as an option) fuel tank with fuel line and various parts to convert carburettors for use the NG engine bay. The windscreen kit contains full width windscreen in chromed frame and includes mirrors and all brackets. The interior trim kit contains all carpeting and trim panels. The cooling system kit contains an 1800 radiator (the B item won’t fit) all fittings and hoses. The fascia kit contains a full width dashboard including glove box, body edge piping and a leather covered steering wheel with a collapsible boss and bespoke speedo cable. Weather equipment also comes in a complete kit with the hood, its frame and a pair of sidescreens. For the best possible finish some builders complete the assembly of their cars, then strip the body down again for paint spraying, this avoids damage to precious paintwork during assembly and ensures that the final fit of all panels and parts will be perfect.

Interior of TC stylish and functional   Seat belt anchorage for TC provides extra strength and added safety

Ideal kit for the MG fanatic It is little wonder that the NG has proved so popular over the years. To someone with a tired out BGT this kit could provide the ideal way to resurrect a much loved old friend. Alternatively if you’ve always fancied building a kit car here is the perfect project. You can utilise all your acquired knowledge and expertise of MGs to deal with the mechanical assembly, exploit your access to MG spares through the MG Owners’ Club and the quality of the kit components ensures that you can build a car of which you can be justly proud. Whether you build the practical TF or mind blowing TC, you can always be confident that underpinning the classic body shape and well engineered chassis, are the safe, reliable and proven components of a sports car.

Fit and finish of the windscreen is excellent. The SVA required the removal of all sharp edges on the frame and interior fittings. Walnut dashboard now houses recessed instruments and switchgear

You can obtain more information about whole of the NG range including the front suspension kit from John Hoyle of NG cars on tel/fax 01372 748666

Richard Ladds